Taxi drivers threaten nationwide strike
Wednesday, 10 March 2010 17:25
Taxi drivers are threatening a nationwide strike unless the Government agrees to a cap on licences by next week.
The Irish Taxi Council said they received a mandate at a meeting attended by 2,000 members today and will be serving a seven-day notice of strike.
A cap on taxi licences, extra rank spaces and a ban on renting licences are part of an 11-point plan recommended by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport.
A protest by drivers yesterday brought disruption to Dublin city centre and there were protests in other town centres around the country.
It followed a sit-in by two members of the Irish Taxi Council (ITC) at the office of the Commission for Taxi Regulation, which was ended by an interim High Court injunction.
The ITC has agreed to comply with the injunction and stay away from the commission's office pending another hearing on 14 April.
Frank Byrne of the ITC said there will be an all-out strike if the Oireachtas Committee's recommendations are not implemented by 12pm on Thursday 18 March.
The protest by taxi drivers in Cork was suspended following the ITC meeting.
Services had been suspended at Cork Airport, Kent Station and in the city centre but have now returned to normal.
The taxi rank at Dublin Airport was closed for a time this morning, but there was no other disruption to services or traffic.
- Morning Ireland: Frank Byrne, Irish Taxi Council President, says that the protest over taxi regulation will continue and will be expanded to all areas
- Morning Ireland: Frank Byrne, Irish Taxi Council President, says that the protest over taxi regulation will continue and will be expanded to all areas
